4 May 2015
 Categories: , Articles

Are you tired of your electric bill skyrocketing during the summer? No one should have to suffer through the heat because they can't afford to keep their air conditioning on. With summer around the corner you need to start planning for how to lower your bill. Here are some great tips for lowering your summer air conditioning bill.

Plant trees around your home

Homes that don't have many trees get much hotter during the summer time. Having the sun beating down on your home will heat up your windows, letting a lot of heat inside of your home. Planting trees in front of your windows and putting your home in the shade will drastically lower your bill. The temperature difference between shaded and unshaded areas average nearly 30 degrees. That is a huge difference when you are trying to cool off your home.

Close your windows & curtains

It can be difficult to keep your windows closed all summer after keeping them closed all winter. It's natural to want to let in some fresh air. In the middle of the day, you need to close the windows so the hot air doesn't come rolling in. Keep heavy curtains closed over them to block out any excess heat that is coming through your closed windows. If you want fresh air in the home, keep them open in the evening after the sun goes down. Putting a fan in the open window will help keep the house cool if it is still warm outside.

Don't use the stove

You will heat up your home quickly using your stove and oven in the middle of the day. There are many different things that you can do to avoid using your stove. One good idea is eating colder foods. Sandwiches, salads, and fruit salads are all cool and refreshing summer foods that require no cooking. If you want to cook something, use an outdoor grill. This way you can make a nice hot dinner without heating up your home. Another great way to cook without heating up your home is with a crockpot. They don't get as hot as your stove or oven so they won't change your home temperature much.

Check your thermostat

Don't put your air conditioning on 65 degrees and leave it there 24 hours a day. Keeping your thermostat between 70 and 72 will likely cool off your home. You also need to pay attention to how cold your home will actually get. Your air conditioner may not cool your home below 72 degrees, yet you always have it on 70, making your air conditioner run constantly throughout the day. If this is the case, put your thermostat on 73, or one degree higher than the lowest temperature your home gets. This way your AC will turn off throughout the day. At night, turn it up higher or completely off when you open your windows. If your AC unit doesn't seem to be cooling your home properly, contact a technician to take a look at it and make any necessary AC repairs.

Use fans

If you don't have ceiling fans, purchasing some would be a great investment. Ceiling fans keep the air inside moving and circulating, which will allow your air conditioner to do less work. You can install ceiling fans in any place in your ceiling where a dome light is. The kitchen and large living spaces are the most important places to have ceiling fans.

Along with ceiling fans, stand up some floor and box fans around your home. Strategically placed fans will keep your home cool. If your central air vents are in the floor, setting your box fans in front of them will maximize your cold air flow.

You don't have to choose between having money and being cool during the summer months. There are many ways to keep your bill lower during the summertime. Keep your windows and curtains closed with several fans going inside of the home. Avoid your oven and stove as often as possible and you will see a significant decrease in your electric bill.